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Good Morning, Brooklyn: Friday, May 6, 2022

May 6, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
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Deacon Kevin McCormack
Photo courtesy Xaverian High School

XAVERIAN PRINCIPAL NAMED AS DIOCESAN SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT: Deacon Kevin McCormack, principal of the highly-regarded Xaverian High School in Bay Ridge, has been named the new Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn, effective July 1, Bishop Robert Brennan announced yesterday. Deacon McCormack has served as Xaverian’s principal for the last 15 years, and previously was the school’s English and religion teacher. He will be replacing Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, who is retiring as of August 31, 2022, after serving as Superintendent for the past 18 years.

Deacon McCormack was also the co-host, along with Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, of the WABC-NY radio program Religion On The Line from 2006-2018. Rabbi Potasnik started with the program in 1982.

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PARISH FOOD PANTRY NEEDS DONATIONS: The pantry at St. Athanasius Church in Bensonhurst is in need of several perishable and non-perishable foods to meet a growing need. The pantry, in existence for 20 years has seen a community need multiply ten-fold since the beginning of the pandemic, now feeding 200-250 families each week. Especially needed right now are bread, produce and vegetables, pasta, rice, canned fruit, cereal, peanut butter and jelly, canned meats, granola bars, and beans.

Over the past year, the pantry has provided food to over 1,000 families and given out food more than 20,000 times! Donations which can be dropped off at the rectory, at 2154-61st St. in Bensonhurst. Boy Scout Troop 99 has partnered with the parish on a collection drive which concludes this Sunday.

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$2.9 MILLION SECURED FOR TERMINATED MARRIOTT WORKERS: Hundreds of previously-terminated Marriott Marquis Hotel employees will get more than $2.9 million in undelivered severance pay, thanks to an agreement reached with New York Attorney General Letitia James. Her investigation revealed that management at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square promised non-unionized employees the same or better benefits as unionized hotel workers; but when more than 800 workers were fired in March 2021, non-unionized former employees received less severance pay than those who were members of a union.

The agreement with Marriott requires the company to pay $2.95 million to more than 500 individual workers who would have received greater amounts of severance had they been unionized.

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GUILTY PLEA IN SHOOTING OF FEDERAL OFFICER: Yesterday in federal court in Brooklyn, defendant John Shortt pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Eric Komitee to assault of a federal police officer and possessing and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with the attempted robbery of a federal officer outside a nightclub on Utica Ave. in Brooklyn last September. When sentenced, Shortt faces up to 27 years in prison.

Accomplice Greenaway’s case is pending and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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HANDELIAN-STYLE ORATORIO ABOUT US CONSTITUTION: Two Brooklyn performing arts organizations, Grace Chorale of Brooklyn (Jason Asbury, Music Director), and Vertical Player Repertory (Judith Barnes, Artistic Director), are collaborating for the in-person premiere of The Constitution, a Secular Oratorio by Benjamin Yarmolinsky during the weekend of May 14-15. Acknowledging the United States Constitution’s embodiment of 18th century values and language, composer Ben Yarmolinsky has chosen a corresponding 18th century musical style, the Handelian oratorio, as the model for his setting of The Constitution. The work comprises choruses, arias, and recitatives, similar to The Messiah, but with a recognizably American sound that combines jazz rhythms, blues, folk, gospel. (Ticket and time information is available via: eventbrite.com/e/the-constitution-a-secular-oratorio-tickets-319185090197.)

Grace Chorale of Brooklyn is a 90-member community chorus celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, and, under the leadership of Music Director Jason Asbury, its membership, musical partnerships, and range of repertory continue to grow in socially relevant programing,

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PRE-K GRADUATION AWARDS: Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso has announced his administration’s Pre-K-12 graduation awards for the 2022 season. School administrators in Pre-K-12 schools throughout the borough are invited to recognize up to three unique students per graduating class: for the awards, named A ‘Merit,’ (demonstrating outstanding academic achievements across subjects); ‘Perseverance,’ (overcome challenges to improve in their academics and/or achieve graduation; and ‘Brooklyn for All’ (demonstrating a generosity of spirit among their peers and/or within their Brooklyn community).

School administrators will be able to submit names to the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President for graduation awards through an online form at www.brooklyn-usa.org/brooklyngrads until Friday, May 20, at 2 p.m., with awards being mailed to schools during the week of June 13.

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B’NAI B’RITH OPENS STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST: B’nai B’rith International 2022 ‘None Shall Be Afraid’ Essay Contest has been launched, inviting students between the ages of 18 and 22 to present their thoughts for meaningful approaches to combat the alarming spike in attacks on Jews in the United States, Israel and around the world, online and in person. For application information, visit https://www.bnaibrith.org/nsba-essay-contest.html; winners will earn scholarship funds and have the opportunity to have their essays published.

“None Shall Be Afraid” was inspired by the 1790 letter from George Washington to the congregants of Touro Synagogue in Rhode Island, where he quoted Micah 4:4, “Everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.”

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$47.6 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR GREENWAYS: The New York City’s Fiscal 2023 Budget has allocated $47.6 million for Brooklyn and Queens greenway improvements outlined in Destination: Greenways!, a plan by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks) in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT). Mayor Adams’ milestone investment in outer-borough greenways will fund a total of six projects in Brooklyn and Queens, led by Parks with on-street work by DOT. In Brooklyn, work will improve access to the waterfront by building new greenway segments in Leif Ericson Park and reconstructing the existing greenway in part of Shore Road Park.

The investment will fill gaps in existing greenway routes in central Queens and along Brooklyn’s southwest shoreline, with a focus on connecting communities to New York City’s greater park system. 

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BROOKLYN NETS RENOVATED MICCIO CENTER IN RED HOOK: The Brooklyn Nets have unveiled their NBA 75th Anniversary Legacy Project – renovating and re-opening the Joseph Miccio Community Center Fitness Room, run by Good Shepherd Services in Red Hook. The Miccio Community Center serves families from the NYCHA Red Hook Houses with programming throughout the year, providing a safe space for youth to learn and play. The Nets have contributed to the renovation of the space that was damaged during Hurricane Ida last year, fitting it with treadmills, a bike machine, weights and racks, benches, and other multifunctional equipment, and three murals.

The Nets have a long-standing relationship with the Miccio Community Center – dating back to when the team moved to Brooklyn in 2012.

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IPS NEWS: MAYOR SUPPORTS BILL SUSPENDING LIQUOR LICENSE SURCHARGE: New York City Mayor Eric Adams today stood up on record for New York City small businesses by backing a newly introduced bill by New York City Councilmembers Keith Powers and Justin Brannan that would suspend the city’s liquor license surcharge. “Suspending the local tax these businesses currently pay on liquor licenses is a simple, common-sense way to put money back into their pockets and help keep their doors open,” said Mayor Adams.

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